REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 19, 2023
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the submission of a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for funding to provide training to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Crime Laboratory personnel, and to cover associated overtime costs for that training is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15321(b) and 15061(b)(3).
2. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for funding in the amount of $101,757 under the 2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program to provide training to the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s Crime Laboratory personnel, and to cover associated overtime costs for that training, from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025.
3. Designate the Chief Executive Officer as the official authorized to execute the grant application documents, and any subsequent non-substantive amendments necessary, on behalf of the County, as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Chief Executive Officer to transmit the grant application and amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
5. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
Recommendation
(Presenter: Ernie Perez, Deputy Chief, 387-3760)
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant from the 2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (Grant), in the amount of $101,757, will provide funding for tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging for the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) Crime Laboratory personnel to attend specified training, and will cover associated overtime costs of that training. If the application is successful, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the Grant award and to request budget adjustments, if necessary, as part of a future quarterly budget report presented to the Board for approval. No matching funds are required.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has been allocated approximately $2,253,877 in federal Grant funds to improve the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science and medical examiner services. Funds are allocated to the State’s 29 accredited forensic laboratories, based on established criteria. The Department has applied annually and received funding from the Grant since 2002.
The Department is requesting funding to supplement the Crime Laboratory’s operational training budget. This Grant will fund training in eight disciplines: 1) general criminalistics; 2) firearms; 3) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network; 4) trace evidence; 5) blood alcohol; 6) controlled substances; 7) crime scene investigations; and 8) Ten Prints/Latent Comparisons. The additional training will increase the knowledge of the laboratory’s staff with the goal of increased efficiency and faster turn-around time in analyzing evidence.
The application is legally binding and requires the County to designate an “Authorized Official” to sign the application. The Department’s application lists the County’s Chief Executive Officer as the Authorized Official. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance, included in the application, further requires a County official to confirm the individual listed on the application is the Authorized Official. The Chairman of the Board, on behalf of the Board, will make the confirmation that the Chief Executive Officer is the Authorized Official to execute and submit the application documents on behalf of the County.
The Grant term is from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The Department received the Request for Application from the State on November 17, 2023. The application is being submitted for Board approval at the first available date upon completion of the Grant application and legal review.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 28, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on November 30, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on December 1, 2023.